Electric switch for operating automobile speed-signals



A. W. OLDS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH'FOR OPERATING AUTOMOBILE SPEED SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1920. I

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

-ALFRED W. OLDS, F WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR OPERATING AUTOMOBILE SPEED-SIGNALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed October 9, 1920. Serial No. 415,843.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED 1W. OLDS, acitizen of the United States, residing at \Vindsor, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Electric Switches for Operating Automobile Speed-Signals,of which the following is a specification.

This ihveh tion relates to an apparatus which is adapted to be placed onpleasure and commercial automobiles and other motor vehicles forautomatically controlling a sign designed to indicate a change in therate of travel of the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effectiveapparatus which will make the necessary switches in electrical circuits,as the speed of the vehicle varies, to cause the sign which is connectedwith the electrical circuits, to indicate such changes in the movementsof the vehicle as may occur. a

In attaining this end a member is loosely mounted on a'shaft, which isto be connected with and rotated by Some moving part of the vehicle, soas to turn with the shaft under normal conditions but owing to itsmomentum run ahead of the shaft as the shaft slows down. Onthe rotatablemember is a weight so hung thatvit will be thrown out w by centrifugalaction according to the s )eed of rotation. The weight has a finger wich engages different electrical contacts that r0- tate at the samespeed as the shaft, as the weight changes position due to the speed ofits revolution, and closes the required circuits to cause the properindications of the si 11, such for instance as lea-r.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a central, vertical sectionof an apparatus which embodies the invention. Fig. 2 shows on smallerscale a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 22on Fig. 1, the casing being omitted. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken onthe plane indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

The shaft 1, which is designed to be connected with any suitablerotating part of the vehicle upon which the apparatus .is mounted, issupported by ani-friction bearings 2 arranged in the "heads 3 that aresecured in the ends of the'cylindrical'shell 1. The rotatable weightcarrying member is desirably made in the form of a flywheel 5 and ismounted on the shaft within the easst p, Slaw,

ing with interposed antifriction bearing 6.

A light spring 7 is connected with the shaft andwith a stud 8 projectingfrom the rotatable member to retain said member with a yielding force innormal relation to the shaft, and a pin 9 is extended from the shaft soas to engage a stud 10 projecting from the member and provide a stopwhich will limit the independent movements relatively of member andshaft.

Pivotally attached to the rotatable member so that they may swingoutward transversely of the shaft are one or more weights 11. Theseweights are shown as thin metal plates and itis preferred to provide twoof these weights and secure them by pivots 12 and guide them from thememberthrough slots 14 in the weights. If two weights are used they aredesirably connected by links 15 with a common rocker 16 that is looselymounted on the shaft, so that the weights will operate together.rotatable -member and weights normally draw the weights inward. Attachedto one of the weights and projecting inwardly is an electricallyconducting finger 18.

Secured on the shaft is an insulatin sleeve 19 with an insulating flange20. n the sleeve are three conducting bands 21, 22 and 23. The band 21on the sleeve is electrically connected with a contact ring 24 set inthe face of the flange, the band 22 is connected by a wire 25 with acontact ring 26 set in the face of the flange, and the band 23 isconnected by a wire 27 with a small contact plate 28 set in the face ofthe insulating flange between and insulated from the ends of the ring26.

A brush 29 is arranged to engage the band 21, a brush 30,is arranged toengage the band 22, and a brush 31 is in contact with the band 23. Thesebrushes are mounted on an insulating block 32 that is fastened to one ofthe heads, and connected with them are suitable conductors 33, '34, 35which lead to the warning sign. A battery ground wire 36 is connected toone of the heads of the casing.

The finger which is attached to one of the weights is so shaped anddirected that in the various positions of the weight it will engage withthe ring 24 or the ring 26 or the plate 28. When the parts are at restin normal position the finger lies against the ring 24 so n electricalcircuit is completed by studs 13 that extend .member is rotating withthrough the apparatus and ground and the brush 29 and lead wire 33,under which condition the sign may indicate stop. When the machine isrunning normally at uniform speed and the rotatable weight carrying theshaft the weights are thrown out and this carries the finger againsttheplate 28. This closes a circuit through the apparatus and ground andthrough the plate 28, wire 27, band 23, brush 31 and lead wire 85, whichcircuit may cause the sign to indicate clear or any other suitableannouncement. WVhen the machine slows down after traveling at uniformspeed and the weight carrying member runs ahead of the shaft, the fingeris carried into contact with the ring 26 and a circuit is thenestablished through the apparatus and ground and the ring 26, wire 25,band 22, brush 30 and lead wire 34, which circuit can cause the sign toindicate slow.

The invention claimed is 1, An electric signal switch comprising arotary shaft, a member loosely mounted on the shaft, a conductor looselymounted on said member and adapted under centrifugal action toassumedifferent positions radially of the shaft according to the speedof rotation of the member, contacts rotatable with the shaft and adaptedto be engaged by said conductor, and brushes in engagement with saidcontacts.

2. An electric signal switch comprising a rotary shaft, a member looselymounted on the shaft, a weight pivotally attached to said member, afinger attached to and movable with the weight, contacts rotatable withthe shaft and adapted to be engaged by said finger, and brushes inengagement with said contacts.

8 An electric signal switch comprising a rotary shaft, a member looselymounted on the shaft, a pair tached to said member, means connecting theweights so that they move coincidently, a finger attached to and movablewith the weights, contacts rotatable with the shaft and adapted to beengaged by said finger,

of weights pivotally at and brushes in engagement with said contacts.

4. An electric signal switch comprising a rotary shaft, a member loosely'mounted on the shaft, a spring yieldingly connecting said member withthe shaft, a weight pivotally attached to the member, a finger attachedto and movable with the weight, contacts rotatable with the shaft andadapted to be engaged by said finger, and brushes in engagement withsaid contacts.

5. An electric signal switch comprising a rotary shaft, a member looselymounted on the shaft, a weight pivotally attached to said member, afinger attached to and movable with the weight, conducting rings mountedon and insulated from the shaft and adapted to be engaged by saidfinger, conducting bands mounted on and insulated from the shaft,conductors connecting said rings and bands, and brushes in engagementwith said bands.

6. An electric signal switch comprising a rotary shaft, a member looselymounted on the shaft, a spring yieldingly connecting the said member andthe shaft, a pair of weights pivotally attached to the member, links anda rocker connecting the weights so that they move coincidently, springsnormally drawing the weights inward, a finger attached to and movablewith one of the weights, contacts rotatable with the shaft and adaptedto be engaged by said finger, and brushes in engagement with saidcontacts.

7. An electric signal switch comprising" a rotary shaft, a memberloosely mounted on the shaft, a weight pivotally attached to saidmember, a finger attached to and movable with the weight, contactsannularly arranged on the shaft at different distances from the axis andadapted to be engaged by -the linger bonductors mounted on and rotatingwith the shaft, means connecting said contacts and sald conductors, and,brushes in engagement with said contacts.

ALFRED V. OLDS.

